Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a pro se litigant's motion to reopen the time to appeal. The court held that the litigant failed to meet the strict requirements for reopening the appeal period under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure four comma six.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging the timeliness of a state prisoner's habeas corpus petition. The court found the petitioner failed to demonstrate a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right required to obtain a certificate of appealability.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion for leave to withdraw filed by appointed counsel. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the denial of Social Security disability benefits to a veteran with chronic neck and back problems. The court held that the administrative law judge's residual functional capacity determination was supported by substantial evidence despite the absence of a specific medical opinion on workplace functionality.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a dispute over life insurance policy premiums. The court held that ambiguities in the policy documents must be construed in favor of the insureds under Alaska law.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a conviction and sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that while the district court erred by not submitting the different-occasions finding to a jury, the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order dismissing a civil complaint filed under the Prison Litigation Reform Act. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's application of the statutory dismissal standard.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se prisoner challenging district court orders. The court held that the appealed orders were neither final nor appealable interlocutory or collateral orders.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a within-Guidelines-range sentence for a defendant who pleaded guilty to a firearm offense. The court rejected arguments that the district court erred in applying a cross-reference for attempted murder or in imposing a substantively unreasonable sentence.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a state prisoner's habeas corpus petition. The court held that the state court's application of the custody test for Miranda warnings and the voluntariness of the defendant's statements was not objectively unreasonable.
